With its soft beige color, this seed stitch sweater pattern knits up into a beautiful pullover that pairs effortlessly with anything in your wardrobe. Whether you wear it over jeans, a linen skirt, or tailored trousers, this versatile piece adds soft texture and understated elegance to any outfit. The neutral beige color works for all seasons — fresh in spring, calm in summer, and cozy in fall.
The Beauty of a Seed Stitch Sweater
Knitting this seed stitch sweater pattern is a pure joy. The seed stitch is one of the simplest textured stitches in knitting — just alternate knit and purl stitches with a single offset. It creates a dense, bumpy fabric that looks like little seeds. No complex cables or lace counting. Just rhythm and repetition. At the same time, the fantasy pattern inserts (Pattern Stitch B) add a touch of airy elegance. The combination of solid seed stitch and delicate openwork makes this sweater both modern and timeless. Beginners will master the basics, while advanced knitters will enjoy the subtle design details.
Sizes and Technical Information
- Sizes: 34/36 (38/40:42/44:46/48:50/52)
- Bust circumference: 32¼–35 (35½–38¼:38½–41¼:41¾–45¼:45¾–49¼) inches
- Finished sweater width: 36¼ (38½:41:44:48¾) inches
- Finished sweater length: 20¾ (21:21½:21¾:22¼) inches
- Sleeve length: 18 inches (46 cm) for all sizes
Materials for Knitting
- Yarn: 6 (7:7:8:8) skeins of bright yellow / peach-pink; 54% alpaca wool, 46% polyamide; 164 yds (150 m) per 1.8 oz (50 g)
- Needles: US size 7 (4.5 mm) and US size 9 (5.5 mm)
- Notions: stitch markers, tapestry needle
Stitch Patterns and Techniques
Ribbing
Work alternately k1, p1.
Seed Stitch (odd number of stitches)
Row 1: *P1, k1; repeat from * to end, end with p1.
Row 2 and all following rows: Work same as Row 1.
Pattern Stitch A (multiple of 2 sts + 2)
Row 1 (RS): K1, *slip 1 purlwise with yarn in back, k1, yo, then pass the knit stitch and yo over the slipped st; repeat from * to end, end with k1.
Row 2 (WS): Purl all sts.
Pattern Stitch B
Work according to chart.
Gauge (after blocking)
| Stitch Pattern | Needles | Gauge |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern Stitch A | US size 9 (5.5 mm) | 18 sts × 20 rows = 4 × 4 inches |
| Pattern Stitch B | US size 9 (5.5 mm) | 18 sts × 24 rows = 4¼ × 4¼ inches |
| Seed Stitch | US size 9 (5.5 mm) | 16 sts × 24 rows = 4 × 4 inches |
BACK
With US size 7 (4.5 mm) needles, cast on 84 (90:98:104:116) sts. Work in ribbing for 1½ inches (3.5 cm).
Switch to US size 9 (5.5 mm) needles and continue in Pattern Stitch A.
Armholes: At 13¼ inches (33.5 cm) from cast-on edge, bind off for armholes at each side:
- 1 × 4 sts, then on every following RS row:
- (1:2:2:3) × 4 sts, and
- 4 (3:3:4:4) × 2 sts
- Remaining sts: 60 (62:62:64:68) sts.
Continue working in established pattern.
Neck: At 20 (20¼:20¾:21:21½) inches from cast-on edge, bind off center 20 (20:20:22:22) sts for the neck. Work each side separately.
- For neck shaping, bind off 1 × 11 sts on the next RS row along the inner edge.
Shoulder Shaping: At 20¼ (20¾:21:21½:21¾) inches from cast-on edge, bind off for shoulder slope along armhole edge:
- 1 × 4 (4:4:4:6) sts, then on every following RS row:
- 1 × 5 (6:6:6:6) sts.
Finish the second side symmetrically.
FRONT
With US size 7 (4.5 mm) needles, cast on 84 (90:98:104:116) sts. Work in ribbing for 1½ inches (3.5 cm).
Switch to US size 9 (5.5 mm) needles and continue in Pattern Stitch A.
Armholes: Same as Back.
Neck: At 17 (17½:18:18¼:18¾) inches from cast-on edge, bind off center 16 (16:16:18:18) sts for the neck. Work each side separately.
- For neck shaping, bind off on every following RS row along inner edge:
- 1 × 4 sts,
- 3 × 2 sts,
- 3 × 1 st.
Shoulder Shaping: Same as Back.
Finish the second side mirroring the first.
SLEEVES (make two)
With US size 7 (4.5 mm) needles, cast on 36 (40:44:48:52) sts. Work in ribbing for 2¾ inches (7 cm).
Next row (WS): Purl, evenly increasing 24 sts → 60 (64:68:72:76) sts.
Switch to US size 9 (5.5 mm) needles and continue working in Seed Stitch and Pattern Stitch B (see chart).
Stitch distribution: 21 (23:25:27:29) sts in Seed Stitch, 18 sts in Pattern Stitch B, 21 (23:25:27:29) sts in Seed Stitch.
Sleeve decreases: Bind off 1 st at each side:
- On every following 24th row: 2 (2:2:3:3) times
- On every following 12th row: 3 (3:3:1:1) times
→ Remaining sts: 50 (54:58:64:68) sts.
Sleeve cap: At 18 inches (46 cm) from cast-on edge, bind off for sleeve cap at each side:
- 1 × 2 sts, then on every following RS row:
- (-:-:1:1) × 2 sts,
- 2 (2:3:3:5) × 1 st,
- On every following 4th row: 1 (2:6:5:3) × 1 st,
- On every following 6th row: — (3:-:-:-) × 1 st,
- On every following 8th row: 3 (-:-:-:-) × 1 st,
- On every following RS row: 1 (2:2:2:4) × 1 st and 1 (1:1:2:2) × 2 sts.
Bind off remaining 28 sts.
NECKBAND
With US size 7 (4.5 mm) needles, cast on 96 (96:96:100:100) sts. Work in ribbing for 1¼ inches (3 cm).
Work 1 row (RS) in knit. Then switch to a contrasting color yarn and work several rows in stockinette stitch.
- Note: Steam the neckband, then unravel these contrasting rows before assembly.
FINISHING
- Sew shoulder and side seams. Sew sleeve seams.
- Run a gathering thread along the top edge of the sleeve cap and gather to 3¼ inches (8 cm). Set sleeves into armholes.
- Using a backstitch, sew the live stitches of the neckband to the right side of the neck edge, one stitch at a time.
Knitting Chart – Fantasy Lace Pattern
Sweater Schematic
